Revealed: the guide the MoD uses to keep its secrets secret
Briefly

The Ministry of Defence has published a detailed blueprint that guides officials on censoring government documents, as revealed through a Freedom of Information request. This 144-page guide explains the criteria for classifying certain documents as sensitive, including those related to the monarchy or military recruitment. Although documents should be accessible after 20 years per the Public Records Act, many files, particularly involving controversial topics or individuals, may never be released. The guide underscores significant challenges to transparency and the public's ability to access historical records, particularly around sensitive governmental matters.
The MoD's blueprint for censoring government records highlights when and why certain documents can be withheld from public access, impacting historical transparency.
The guide suggests that documents concerning the monarchy, Gurkha recruitment, and UFOs may remain classified, revealing the challenges to governmental transparency.
Under current legislation, there are significant reasons why important government documents may not be transferred to public archives, impeding historical research.
The lengthy 144-page guide outlines strict criteria for officials on what constitutes sensitive information, thus preventing public access to potentially controversial topics.
Read at www.theguardian.com
[
|
]